Food providing Proteins: Proteins are the building blocks of the body cells. The amino-acids that form proteins are needed to make all the different body tissues like muscles, blood, nerves, bones and all the organs of our body. The food with large amounts of proteins also contain iron and folic Acid which are needed by both your and your baby.

Normal requirement in a non-pregnant woman is 1 gram per Kg body weight per day. In pregnancy, 10 grams of extra protein should be added daily over the normal non-pregnant requirement of 1gm per Kg of body weight.

Requirements: Eat at least 3 servings of protein each day. Each serving is equivalent to:

Milk and milk products: Milk and milk products are a rich source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and other fat soluble vitamins and minerals. Your baby needs calcium to build strong bones and teeth as well as to develop muscle, heart and nerve tissue.

If the calcium supply in your diet is inadequate, the calcium from your bones will leak out to supply your baby’s needs. This can create a risk that you will develop osteoporosis in later life. Cramps in the calves of the legs and pains in the long bones are also signs that the calcium level in your body is low.

Milk products are also rich sources of proteins and Vitamins of the B group, especially for vegetarians.

The normal daily requirement of calcium is 1000mg in pregnancy and 1500 mg in breastfeeding mothers.

Requirements: You need at least 4 servings of milk and milk products in a day. A single serving is equivalent to:

Vegetables: Vegetables, like fruits, are rich in vitamins, minerals and necessary trace elements. They add crunch, colour and flavour to your diet and provide you with fluids and fibre.

Requirements:Eat at least 4 servings of vegetables in a day. One serving is equivalent to:

Fats and Oils: Although some amount of fats and oils are necessary in the diet, too much can make you overweight. You should try to minimize the amount of fat and oils in your diet.

Butter, margarine and salad dressings like mayonnaise, pastry, fatty meats, cakes, biscuits and most take-away foods contain bad fats and need to be severely restricted.

Olive oil, rice bran oil are the good oils that not only provide the necessary fat but also supply some amount of fat soluble vitamins and anti-oxidants.

The average daily requirement of fat in pregnancy is 35 to 40 grams.A total of 5 teaspoonfuls of oil is enough to provide this amount in a day.

Nuts and seeds like almonds and peanuts can supply you with the right fats. They are also good sources of proteins and are also tasty to eat. You can take 2 servings of nuts and seeds in a day, 1 serving being 2 tablespoonfuls.